The Private Side of History
A reference librarian at the Virginia Historical Society assists a patron. The library is a good resource for those reseaching personal genealogy.
Advertisement
Text size: small | medium | large
BY DEVORAH BEN-DAVID - Special Correspondent
Published: July 29, 2008
Most people who have an interest in Virginia history and culture are already aware of the Virginia Historical Society’s (VHS) priceless exhibit of treasures. This is because tangible artifacts such as President George Washington’s diary, which was written after his first year in office, have been making headlines for years.
What’s news to many today is that the exhibit collection is only one-third of the private library’s total collection. Its print collection and manuscript collection give visitors another 9 million reasons to come.
“Like any library, our main goal is to provide access to our collections,” said Frances Pollard, director of Library Services for VHS. “We have the private side of Virginia history, which are huge collections of private correspondence from the Colonial period into the 21st Century.”
Music lovers, for example, are amazed to see thousands of pages of sheet music about Virginia. While Civil War buffs pore over Civil War correspondence and soldier diaries, hoping to discover new facets of history.
Since many genealogical roads lead back to Virginia, the VHS is also an ideal place to find your family roots. The library’s friendly, service-oriented staff is ready to help patrons learn everything they can about the topics that interest them.
Info: 428 N. Boulevard, Richmond. Hours, Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 1-5 p.m. (galleries only). Cost, $3-5. Members, free. On Tuesday, $2 seniors (galleries only). Free on Sunday (galleries only). Call: 358-4901
Website: www.vahistorical.org
Post a Comment
(Requires free registration)
- Please avoid offensive, vulgar, or hateful language.
- Respect others.
- Use the "Report Inappropriate Comment" link when necessary.
- See the Terms and Conditions for details.
Click here to post a comment.
Can't find what you're looking for? Try our quick search:
